Dale Earnhardt Jr recalls on-track disputes with Dale Earnhardt Sr

Dale Earnhardt Sr once threw a shoe at Dale Earnhardt Jr after they traded paint in the race

Dale Earnhardt Jr on racing his father: “There were a lot of instances where we butted heads at the race track.”

Dale Earnhardt Sr was known as the intimidator. That name didn’t come from nowhere. But, did Dale Earnhardt Jr and his father ever have any disputes on the race track?

“I never rattled his cage,” Dale Earnhardt Jr states via the Dale Jr Download. “But, boy I pissed him off a few times.”

“I raced dad really hard. When I was out there I was obviously trying to show him what I was capable of doing. So, I probably was over my head a lot of the time, trying to do too much.”

“There were a lot of instances where we butted heads at the race track, on the race track.”

NASCAR – Twin Ring Motegi – Japan

Dale Earnhardt Jr vs Dale Earnhardt Sr Japan

On November 22, 1998, NASCAR ventured across the pond. The series landed in Japan to race on the oval course at the Twin Ring Motegi. The NASCAR Thunder Special Motegi 500 was an exhibition race.

This is not to be confused with the other overseas race at Suzuka. In 1996-97, NASCAR ran the road course of Suzuka, also in Japan. In the 1997 race, rain tires were used by NASCAR competitors for the first time.

“In Japan, we stole a set of tires out of his pit. It wasn’t really stealing. But, we borrowed it. Richard Childress said that we could take them, that they weren’t gunna use them.”

“The caution came out late in the race and Dad said, ‘I don’t feel like coming to the pit. We’re running like crap and I don’t think we’re gunna win. So, screw it.’ He’s around 8th place.”